Patent Application
20230241936
The disclosure relates, in some aspects, to buffers for vehicles, and more particularly, the present disclosure relates to an apparatus related system and method for installing a coil spring buffer in any vehicle type to improve longevity of vehicles from shocks.
Transportation plays a vital role in economic growth and infrastructure of a nation. Presently transportation has improved the quality of human life from rural to urban. Of all the transportation means, road transportation is one of the cost effective and flexible modes of transport for both freight and passengers. Road transportation acts as a feeder to other means of transportation. Most people prefer either public or private road transportation to reach their destination without any hindrance. So, the roads should be maintained properly for safe and secure journey. Generally challenging roads cause vehicle damage and accidents. Also, the vehicles passing through those challenging roads should be properly equipped with all safety buffers for a secure and comfortable journey.
Suspension buffers can be used to protect vehicle suspension and frame. Suspension buffers can be used in connection with the shocks and/or springs of a vehicle suspension to provide extra loading capacity and limit suspension travel to prevent a vehicle from bottoming out and to prevent the over-compression of springs. Mostly, shock absorbers are used in conjunction with automotive suspension systems to absorb unwanted vibrations which occur during driving on challenging roads. A vehicle with shock absorber improves suspension movement and enhances stability of the vehicle. Some non-limiting examples of modular suspension buffers include bump stops and coil spring blocks/boosters. A wide variety of coil spring buffers have been developed for vehicles in order to reduce the vibration on bumpy roads thus enabling a safe, smooth and stable driving experience.
Earlier vehicle suspension systems utilize a hydraulic shock absorber that absorbs or limits excessive suspension movement in vehicles. Pneumatic and hydraulic shock absorbers have upper- and lower-cylinder compartments divided by a main piston. Solenoid valves are actuated to supply hydraulic fluid under pressure to the upper cylinder compartments and subsequently to the lower cylinder compartment when it is required to lift a vehicle’s wheel. Hydraulic shock absorbers are very responsive and can react quicker than most other suspension systems. Moreover, hydraulic systems are more susceptible to fluid leaks, which could lead to vehicle damage and expensive repairs. In another approach, magnetic dampers are developed for limiting more suspension in vehicles by varying their electric current through fluid containing iron. The magnetic dampers adjust their stiffness in response to the road’s conditions for a smooth driving. However, in magnetic dampers repulsive force of power magnet is quite uncontrollable and it utilizes ferrous materials which are subjected to corrosion on frequent usage.
In another approach, double acting shock absorbers are used to resist both compression and rebound holes in vehicles. These double acting shock absorbers have capability of use of highly flexible springs. However, these double acting shock absorbers generate resistance only at the rebounding stage during operation. Another approach utilizes lever type shock absorbers for better damping characteristics for longer suspension bumps. These lever type shock absorbers work on the principle of pumping oil backwards and forwards between two cylinders through suitable valves set to give the required amount of restriction in each direction. However, these lever type shock absorbers have become virtually obsolete due to their non-predictable damping characteristics. Yet another approach uses coil spring rubbers that limit suspension maximum deformation quantity which alleviates the direct collision of axletree to vehicle frame thereby preventing elastic element from producing excessive distortion. However, these coil spring rubbers do not fit for all vehicle types. However, all existing coil springs, leaf springs, air springs, torsion bars or rubber block suspensions have no provision for control of the rebound forces of inertia and gravity, negative suspension loads.
Therefore, there is a need for a coil spring buffer to improve suspension and enhance stability of any vehicle type via insertion of a suitable cushioning material at the auto shock spring of the vehicle. Furthermore, such a system would be designed to enhance prolonged vehicle suspension, increase driving stability, and improve longevity of vehicle shocks. Such a system would be designed to provide a kit consisting of a plurality of modules, each module varying in height to fit the coil spring of any vehicle type or size. Moreover, such a system would be designed to achieve height adjustable features by combining one or more modules to match the coil spring space of any vehicle. The present embodiment overcomes the shortcomings in the field by accomplishing these critical objectives.
The following presents a simplified summary of some aspects of the disclosure to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated features of the disclosure and is intended neither to identify key or critical elements of all aspects of the disclosure nor to delineate the scope of any or all aspects of the disclosure. Its sole purpose is to present various concepts of some aspects of the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
To minimize the limitations found in the prior art, and to minimize other limitations that will be apparent upon the reading of the specification, the present disclosure provides a universal modular coil spring buffer system for any vehicle type to improve longevity of vehicle shocks. The modular suspension buffer may be mounted between adjacent convolutions of a coil spring to provide extra height and/or support to the suspension.
In the preferred embodiment, the universal modular coil spring buffer includes a primary module and a plurality of secondary modules arranged in a specific configuration adaptable to be inserted in the gap of a coil spring of a vehicle to prevent shocks. The plurality of secondary modules includes a first module, a second module and a third module. In this preferred embodiment, different configurations of primary module and plurality of secondary modules can be employed for different vehicles with different coil spring dimensions and based on the distance between the adjacent coils. The different configurations provide different height dimensions. In this preferred embodiment, the structure of the primary module and the plurality of secondary modules are designed to allow the modules to be connected by sliding the matching pieces which lock into place thereby preventing the modules from moving while the vehicle is in motion. The primary module and the plurality of secondary modules in this preferred embodiment being a quarter circle size for easy installation thereby increasing the height of the vehicle to prevent the suspension from hitting down when the vehicle hits a bump on the road.
The primary module of this preferred embodiment is substantially semicircular in shape having an inner surface, an outer surface, a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface of the primary module includes a top elongated groove configured to fix and hold the adjacent coils of the coil spring of the vehicle. The bottom surface of the primary module includes a bottom elongated groove configured to fix and hold the plurality of secondary modules depending on the height dimensions of the vehicle. In this preferred embodiment, the primary module can be positioned between the adjacent coils of the coil spring such that the elongated grooves snugly hold therebetween and minimizes the shock in the coil spring when the vehicle hits a bump on the road.
In this preferred embodiment, each of the plurality of secondary modules are substantially semicircular in shape having a secondary inner surface, a secondary outer surface, a secondary top surface and a secondary bottom surface. In this preferred embodiment, the first module of the plurality of secondary modules includes an elongated slot on the secondary bottom surface and an elongated projection on the secondary top surface. The second module of the plurality of secondary modules includes an elongated slot on the secondary bottom surface and an elongated projection on the secondary top surface. The third module of the plurality of secondary modules of the universal modular coil spring buffer includes an elongated slot on the secondary bottom surface and an elongated projection on the secondary top surface.
In this preferred embodiment, the length and breadth of the primary module and the plurality of secondary modules are the same, whereas the height of the primary module and each of the plurality of secondary modules are different. In one aspect of the embodiment, the height of the primary module is 0.2″ and the height of the first module, the second module and the third module are 1.1″, 0.63″ and 0.31″ respectively. Also, in this preferred embodiment, a vehicle owner initially determines the measurement of the spring spacing between the coils of their vehicle. Using this measurement, combination of modules needed to fit their vehicle is determined thereby minimizing the shock in the coil spring when the vehicle hits the bump on the road. Also, the buffer lessens the compression to the coil spring which thereby minimizes oil leakage caused from the shocks.
In the preferred embodiment, a process for installing the universal modular coil spring buffer between the adjacent coils of a coil spring of a vehicle is explained. Initially measure the spring spacing between adjacent coils of the coil spring of the vehicle. After measuring, determine an appropriate configuration of the primary module and the plurality of secondary modules based on the measured spring space. Next step is to install the primary module to the top coil between which the universal modular coil spring buffer is to be inserted. Thereafter, place the other plurality of secondary modules on the bottom side of the spring. Next, slide at least one of the plurality of secondary modules based on the appropriate configuration under the bottom surface of the primary module and to the adjacent coil of the coil spring such that the configuration of the primary module and the plurality of secondary modules are held tightly between the adjacent coils of the spring coil. Also, sliding is done in different directions among the modules to connect them together and line up on the edges in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
In this present embodiment, a method for installing the universal modular coil spring buffer between the adjacent coils of a coil spring of a vehicle is disclosed. The method commences by providing a universal modular coil spring buffer having a primary module and a plurality of secondary modules. Next, measure the spring spacing between adjacent coils of the coil spring of the vehicle. Thereafter, determine an appropriate configuration of the primary module and the plurality of secondary modules based on the measured spring space. Next, install the primary module to the top coil between which the universal modular coil spring buffer is to be inserted and finally, sliding at least one of the plurality of secondary modules based on the appropriate configuration under the bottom surface of the primary module and above the adjacent coil of the coil spring such that the configuration of the primary module and the plurality of secondary modules are held tightly between the adjacent coils of the spring coil.
It is a first objective of the present invention to provide a coil spring buffer to improve suspension and enhance stability of the vehicle via insertion of a suitable cushioning material, including but not limited to natural rubber, synthetic rubber, composite rubber, etc, at the auto shock spring of the vehicle, to provide soft initial contact upon impact and a non-linear spring rate so as to improve driving stability, loading capacity, off-road performance, and/or ride comfort while extending the operational lifespan of the suspension system.
A second objective of the present invention is to enhance prolong vehicle suspension, increase driving stability, and improve longevity of vehicle shocks.
A third objective of the present invention is to provide a universal kit consisting of a plurality of modules, each module varying in height to fit to the coil spring of any vehicle type or size. The modular suspension buffer can be made in various shapes, sizes, and hardness.
A fourth objective of the present invention is to achieve height adjustable features by combining one or more modules to match the coil spring space of any vehicle.
Another objective of the present invention is to reduce the compression to the coil spring thereby minimizing oil leak caused from the shocks.
These and other advantages and features of the present invention are described with specificity so as to make the present invention understandable to one of ordinary skill in the art.
These and other aspects of the disclosure will become more fully understood upon a review of the detailed description which follows. Other aspects, features, and implementations of the disclosure will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, upon reviewing the following description of specific implementations of the disclosure in conjunction with the accompanying figures. While features of the disclosure may be discussed relative to certain implementations and figures below, all implementations of the disclosure can include one or more of the advantageous features discussed herein. In other words, while one or more implementations may be discussed as having certain advantageous features, one or more of such features may also be used in accordance with the various implementations of the disclosure discussed herein. In a similar fashion, while certain implementations may be discussed below as device, system, or method implementations, it should be understood that such implementations can be implemented in various devices, systems, and methods.
A more particular description is included below with reference to specific aspects illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only certain aspects of the disclosure and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the disclosure is described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof. In addition to the illustrative aspects, aspects, and features described above, further aspects, aspects, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. The description of elements in each figure may refer to elements of proceeding figures. Like numbers may refer to like elements in the figures, including alternate aspects of like elements.
Some aspects of the present disclosure provide a modular suspension buffer for a vehicle. The modular suspension buffer can improve the vehicle suspension, for example, to provide soft initial contact upon impact and a non-linear spring rate so as to improve driving stability, loading capacity, off-road performance, and/or ride comfort while extending the operational lifespan of the suspension system. Some non-limiting examples of modular suspension buffers include bump stops and coil spring blocks/boosters. The modular suspension buffer can be made in various shapes, sizes, and hardness. The modular suspension buffer can be mounted in different locations of the vehicle and/or suspension to provide extra loading capacity, ride height, and/or prevent bottoming out. Bottoming out can occur when a vehicle is driven over objects and surface imperfections, and/or when the vehicle carries a heavy load reaching the load capacity of the suspension. Bottoming out can damage the vehicle suspension components, frame, and/or axle. In some aspects, the modular suspension buffer may be a bump stop that can be mounted between a vehicle frame/body and a wheel axle to absorb impact before the wheel axle comes into contact with the frame/body when the suspension is bottoming out or in full deflection. In some aspects, the modular suspension buffer may be mounted between adjacent convolutions of a coil spring to provide extra height and/or support to the suspension. The modular suspension buffer can be made of different materials to provide the desired resistance and hardness.
Referring to the figures,
In one aspect, the modular suspension buffer 500 can include the top elastic element 502 and the bottom elastic element 504 connected together with no middle elastic element 506 as shown in
The bottom elastic element 504 has a groove 510 on the top side.
In one aspect, the top elastic element 502 can have a cavity 516 formed on the top side. The cavity 516 can have a shape that conforms to the shape of a convolution of a coil spring. The bottom elastic element 504 can have a similar cavity 518 formed on the bottom side. The modular suspension buffer 500 can be securely placed between adjacent convolutions using the cavities 516 and 518 that can engage or catch the convolutions. The cavities can reduce the sliding or translational motion of the modular suspension buffer 500 between adjacent convolutions during operation. In one example, the cavity 516 of the top elastic element 502 may be formed as a curved space, channel, or groove (see
In one aspect, the modular suspension buffer 500 includes the top elastic element 502, the bottom elastic element 504, and one or more middle elastic elements 506 between the top elastic element 502 and the bottom elastic element 504 (see
Referring to
Referring to
Turning to
In the preferred embodiment, the length and breadth of the primary module 100 and the plurality of secondary modules 108 are the same, whereas the height of the primary module 100 and each of the plurality of secondary modules 108 are different. The height of the primary module 100 is 0.2″ and the height of the first module 102, the second module 104 and the third module 106 are 1.1″, 0.63″ and 0.31″ respectively. Other height variations may be used for the modules. Also, in the preferred embodiment, the user initially determines the measurement of the spring spacing between the coils of their vehicle. Using this measurement, combination of modules needed to fit their vehicle is determined and installed, thereby minimizing the shock in the coil spring when the vehicle hits the bump on the road. Also, the buffer lessens the compression to the coil spring thereby minimizing oil leak caused from the shocks.
Referring to
Referring to
Next step is to install the primary module on top of the coil on which the universal modular coil spring buffer is to be inserted as shown in
In the preferred embodiment, the different configurations of primary module 100 and plurality of secondary modules 108 can be employed for different vehicles with different coil spring dimensions and based on the distance between the adjacent coils. Also, the structure of the primary module 100 and the plurality of secondary modules 108 are designed to allow the modules to be connected by sliding the matching pieces which lock into place and thereby preventing the modules from moving while the vehicle is in motion. Fasteners like zip ties may be used to connect the primary module 100 and the plurality of secondary modules 108 firmly together on top of the coil spring to prevent the shocks, prolong vehicle suspension, increase driving stability, and improve longevity of vehicle shocks.
The examples set forth herein are provided to illustrate certain concepts of the disclosure. The apparatuses, devices, or components illustrated above may be configured to perform one or more of the methods, features, or steps described herein. Those of ordinary skill in the art will comprehend that these are merely illustrative in nature, and other examples may fall within the scope of the disclosure and the appended claims. Based on the teachings herein those skilled in the art should appreciate that an aspect disclosed herein may be implemented independently of any other aspects and that two or more of these aspects may be combined in various ways. For example, an apparatus may be implemented or a method may be practiced using any number of the aspects set forth herein. In addition, such an apparatus may be implemented or such a method may be practiced using other structure, functionality, or structure and functionality in addition to or other than one or more of the aspects set forth herein.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any aspect described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects. Likewise, the term “aspects” does not require that all aspects include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation.
While the above descriptions contain many specific aspects of the invention, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as examples of specific aspects thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the aspects illustrated, but by the appended claims and their equivalents. Moreover, reference throughout this specification to “one aspect,” “an aspect,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the aspect is included in at least one aspect of the present disclosure. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one aspect,” “in an aspect,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same aspect, but mean “one or more but not all aspects” unless expressly specified otherwise.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well (i.e., one or more), unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. An enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive and/or mutually inclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” “including,” “having,” an variations thereof when used herein mean “including but not limited to” unless expressly specified otherwise. That is, these terms may specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or groups thereof. Moreover, it is understood that the word “or” has the same meaning as the Boolean operator “OR,” that is, it encompasses the possibilities of “either” and “both” and is not limited to “exclusive or” (“XOR”), unless expressly stated otherwise. It is also understood that the symbol “/” between two adjacent words has the same meaning as “or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Moreover, phrases such as “connected to,” “coupled to” or “in communication with” are not limited to direct connections unless expressly stated otherwise.
Any reference to an element herein using a designation such as “first,” “second,” and so forth does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. Rather, these designations may be used herein as a convenient method of distinguishing between two or more elements or instances of an element. Thus, a reference to first and second elements does not mean that only two elements may be used there or that the first element must precede the second element in some manner. Also, unless stated otherwise a set of elements may include one or more elements. In addition, terminology of the form “at least one of a, b, or c” or “a, b, c, or any combination thereof” used in the description or the claims means “a or b or c or any combination of these elements.” For example, this terminology may include a, or b, or c, or a and b, or a and c, or a and b and c, or 2a, or 2b, or 2c, or 2a and b, and so on.
The present application is a divisional application of co-pending U.S. Nonprovisional Pat. Application No. 17/316,629 titled “Modular Bump Buffer for Vehicle”, filed on May 10, 2021 which claims priority to and the benefit of provisional patent application no. 63/179,706 filed in the U.S. Pat. Office on Apr. 26, 2021. The present application is also a divisional application of co-pending U.S. Nonprovisional Pat. Application No. 17/856,890 titled “Universal Modularized Coil Spring Buffer”, filed on Jul. 1, 2022.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63179706 | Apr 2021 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17856890 | Jul 2022 | US |
| Child | 18297558 | US | |
| Parent | 17316629 | May 2021 | US |
| Child | 18297558 | US |
